A massive four-alarm fire ripped through the Glenwood Apartment complex on Peach Lane last month.
In the end, twelve units were deemed uninhabitable during the fire on Oct. 9. Four apartments suffered total devastation, four had smoke damage, and the other apartments sustained electrical damage, officials said.
“Thankfully no lives were lost,” said David Lee Hernandez Jr., who is founder and CEO of Jersey Memorial Group, which includes Old Bridge Funeral Home on Route 516. “There were no injuries.”
But 13 families – approximately 30 individuals – were immediately displaced.
Hernandez, who also publishes “All Around Old Bridge,” put a social media post simply stating, “Hey Old Bridge, these people are going to need some things. Let’s start gathering. You can drop things off at our funeral home.”
That was the next night after the fire on Saturday, Oct. 10.
“I didn’t tell my staff and by Sunday morning there were bags, and bags, and bags outside the funeral home,” he said.
They commandeered one of their chapels, Calvary Chapel, as an organization site, Hernandez said.
“We received so much within 48 hours,” Hernandez said, “clothing, women’s clothing, children’s clothing, coats, shoes, blankets, towels, toiletries…”
The response was overwhelming and they had to put another social media post seeking volunteers. By the next morning, they had 30 volunteers that showed up to help.
“It was absolutely incredible what the residents of this town did,” Hernandez said.
Another individual came in with ten $100 gift certificates to Acme.
U-Haul donated a 26-foot truck to store the donated items. Bridge Life Thrift provided $300 gift certificates to the families. Giusseppe’s Pizza gave out $50 gift cards. People at the MAX Fitness and Wellness Center donated brand new coats, shoes, and microwaves.
“All 13 families were able to walk through, and they were all able to grab things they needed,” Hernandez said.
Of interesting note, the amount of people that gave donations and/or volunteered their time had experienced a fire in their family or in their youth and understood what these people were going through, Hernandez said.
“It was therapeutic for them to give,” he said.
The Township Council recognized the community response during a meeting on Oct. 20. Mayor Debbie Walker said when she heard the fire come over the scanner, she picked up Business Administrator Anahita Feltz and they headed towards the scene.
“It is very devastating in a fire,” she said. “You lose everything.”
Feltz recognized the fire departments that responded – Cheesequake, Laurence Harbor, Madison Park and South Old Bridge. The police officers who were first on scene to make sure all the apartments were evacuated.
The Old Bridge Township EMS (emergency medical services) as well as mutual aid including Jamesburg, Sayreville, South Amboy, Marlboro, Morganville, Cliffwood and Marlboro EMS.
Gift cards are still being collected and can be dropped off at Old Bridge Funeral Home at 2350 Route 516 in Old Bridge.
The funeral home is collecting gift cards and coordinating distribution to the affected families.
